Friday 27 November 2015
5249 6700 indy@geelongindy.com.au
geelongindy.com.au
Ex-Alcoa staff ‘sit at home depressed’
City catches Turkey fever Five to win weekly before Christmas
SEE PAGE 6
FORGOTTEN: Former Alcoa workers, Brett Noonan, Kel Brewer and Garry Holmyard. Picture: JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Forgotten workers’ transition struggle By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Sisters fight mystery bug PAGE 3
They are Geelong’s forgotten workers who feel like they have fallen between the cracks. While politicians trumpet multi-million dollar grants for Geelong companies to boost innovation, former Alcoa workers feel left in the lurch. Three ex-Alcoa employees revealed their experiences to the Indy since the aluminium smelter closed in December. Leopold’s Kel Brewer, 54, Corio’s Brett Noonan, 54, and Lovely Banks’ Garry Holmyard, 57, each spent many years at the 50-year-old plant.
“We’ve struggled since Point Henry closed,” Kel said. “We’ve all struggled.” The three recognised that the face of Geelong’s workforce was changing but rued being left behind in a transitioning economy. Only one, Garry, had ongoing work - as a casual brick cleaner for Simonds Homes. Kel had found occasional casual work but Brett, still dealing with injuries he said were a legacy of his tough work at Point Henry, had remained jobless. “We’re not the only ones,” Brett said.
“We still talk to a lot of mates from Alcoa. A lot of them are just sitting at home getting depressed.” The three agreed that replacing full-time work with courses was not enough. “I’ve done lots of courses but lots of other blokes are all doing the same thing,” Kel pointed out. “Everyone from Alcoa is doing the same thing because that’s all that’s available. “But I haven’t studied for years and I admit I struggled with it.” Continued page 14
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1 GEELONG INDY Friday, 27 November, 2015